Mop



Dec. 6, 1938. W. G. BAILEY 2,139,399"

MOP

Filed May l5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec.'6, 1938. w. G. BAILEY 2,139,399

' 'MOP Filed May 1s, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 Y @Wenz-Z071' mrrez Patented Dec. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE" MOP Warren G. Bailey, Evanston, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation Application May 13, 1937, serial No. 142,463

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a mop, and more particularly to a floor mop of the type commonly used to remove dust, etc. from hardwood floors and other surfaces.

An object of the invention is to provide a oor mop having improved means for connecting the handle with the frame or base plate of the mop.

Another object is` to provide a mop in which the handle is frictonally held against change of its angular position through resilient engaging means. A further object is tc provide a mop in which the handle is neatly secured to the base frame and in which the handle is permitted to move downwardly to an extremely low rearward position.

Another object is to provide a mop of simple construction which is strong and secure.

The invention is illustrated in a. preferred embodiment by the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan View of the improved mop, the handle coupling being shown in raised position; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1, the handle coupling being sho-wn in the same position as in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a broken sectional view of the base frame and coupling, this view being somewhat similar to Fig. 2, but showing the coupling in. its extreme lower position; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a detail sectional view of the top plate at the pivoted connection, the section being taken as in Fig. Ll; and Fig. 6, an illustrative View of the coupling piece before it is` formed into shape.

As illustrated, A vdesignates. a frame or base plate; B, a handle coupling member; and C, a swab.

The base plate A comprises a piece of sheet metal of the general shape shown in Fig. 1 and having a substantially flat central portion II). The outer edges of plate A are turned downwardly to form a substantially vertical edge portion II to which the swab C may be attached. At spaced intervals edge I I is provided with elongated apertures I2 through which brads or fasteners may extend.

The swab C comprises a great many strands of flexible brous material I3 which is gathered and held within the fabric strip I4. It is understood that the swab maybe constructed in any suitable way and may be made of any desired materials. In attaching the swab to the base plate A, I prefer to use the split brads or fasteners I5. 'I'hese brads may be passed through fabric Hl and inserted through apertures I2 in edge II and then may be spread apart at their points to secure the swab in place. Preferably, the brads l5 are of the flat type and when inserted through elongated apertures l2 will not turn within the aperture. Also, the flat fasteners bend over easily at their points and provide a maximum of security.

Inward of its edge, plate A is` provided with a groove I6 which extends completely about the plate parallel with the edge. At spaced intervals along this groove are the -apertures Il through rthe bottom of the groove. The purpose of groove I6 and apertures I1 therein is tol enable oil to be poured into the grooves and drained down. into material I3 through the apertures, spreading' itself evenly through the material. The use of such a groove for this purposeis well known, and this particular feature isl not a part of my invention.

Located centrally ot plate A are two spaced slots I8 extending in parallel relation longitudinally of the plate. Adjacent the outer edges of slots I8 the metal of the plate is struck upwardly to form sockets I9 opening on. the underside or the plate. The interior surface of sockets i9 is formed so as to snugly receive the end portion of a cylindrical pin. AAdjacent the inner edges of slots I8 and extending between these slots the metal of plate A is struck downwardly to form a rather shallow groove 2li having a rounded bottom. ,Fig 5 of the drawings shows more clearly the structure of the base plate when it is prepared for connection with the coupling member. Y

Coupling member B may be formed from a sheet of metal as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. By suitable stamping and forming op.- erations the ends 2|, and 22 of this sheet are brought together and the piece given a shape as illustrated in Figs. l to 3. The holding ring 23 may be placed about the upper end of the coupling to keep it from spreading.

As thus formed, coupling B has an upper tubular portion 24 which is provided with the internal ridges 25 which serve as screw threads for engaging complementary threads on the end portion of a handle. The bottom 29 of tubular portion 24 is rounded and below this are the fins. 26 which extend laterally to each side and downwardly to the bearing portion 27 which is in the form of a partial cylinder. On both front and rear of the coupling are the reinforcing ribs 28 which extend from bottom 29 of the tubular portion to the middle of bearing portion 21.

A pin 30 is received through the interior of bearing portion 2'I and has its ends disposed within sockets I9. When thus placed the pin 30 serves as a pivot about which the coupling member may turn in angular movement. It will be apparent that pin 30 can not be inserted to the position just described without deforming the shape of the plate A to some extent. In inserting the pin one of several methods may be used. For example, the pin may be placed within bearing portion 21 and one end pushed laterally beyond the end of the pin socket; then the other end of the pin may be brought into register with the other of the pin sockets, and the pin nally pushed back endwise into proper position.

The metal of base plate A between grooves I8, crimped as it is to form the slight rounded groove 20, provides a resilient cushion against which the bearing portion may rest. When the pin is inserted as above described, this strip of metal is temporarily deformed to allow the pin end to be extended beyond its socket. And after the pin is inserted and the connection between the coupling and the base plate completed, this metal between slots I8 bears resiliently against the exterior of `the cylindrical bearing portion of the coupling and maintains constant frictional engagement between the base plate and the coupling. Such a frictional engagement serves to hold the coupling member in one angular position until the mop ihandle is moved to cause this position to be changed.

Base plate A is provided with an opening 3I rearward of the rounded groove. This opening has a central enlarged portion 3la into which is ireceived the lower part 29 of the tubular portion of coupling B when this coupling is moved rearwardly into lowered position. Rearward of enlarged portion 3|a opening 3| is of substantially elliptical form as indicated at ZiIb of Fig. 1. rI'he forward portion 3|c of the opening is in the form of a relatively narrow neck which is adapted to receive the rib 28 when the coupling is moved rearwardly into lowered position.

It will be observed that the person using the improved mop may lower the handle to a very low position for dusting iioors under beds, dressers, and other pieces of furniture, and at the same timemay have the advantage of a handle pivoted in the base plate. This construction of the pivoted joint is very neat in appearance and well readily appear that as the mop handle is moved forwardly to its extreme position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tubular portion 24 is not allowed to strike against and mar the top surface of the plate. The rib 28 first engages the plate adjacent groove 20 and prevents the upper portion of the coupling from coming into contact with the plate.

It is understood that the construction of the mop may be varied in many details from the specic construction described without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the slots I8 may be lengthened to provide added flexibility, or the ends of pin 39 may be hexagonal or other shapes with sockets I9 of corresponding shapes.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a door mop of the character set forth, a base plate of the shape indicated and having depending side flanges, said base plate having a pair of spaced slots, the metal between the slots being sprung downwardly and the metal to the side of the slots being pressed upwardly to afford end sockets for a pin, and a third slot in said base plate extending between said pair of slots and overlapping the same, said three slots providing between `them two relatively narrow spring bands affording a spring base, a pivot pin resiliently supported within said spring base and having its ends engaging said sockets, and a mop handle provided with a pivot socket extending substantially the distance between said slots and receiving said pivot pin, said handle socket being resiliently gripped by said spring base so as to maintain said handle socket in any desired angular position.

2. In a oor mop of the character set forth, a base plate formed of spring metal and having downwardly extending marginal flanges, said base plate being provided with a pair of spaced slots which are co-extensive with a third slot extending between said pair of slots in overlapping relation, said slots providing between them narrow exing bands affording a resilient .pin base, the metal extending laterally of said pair of slots and being pressed upwardly to provide pin sockets, a pin received within said spring base and having its ends received within said sockets, and a handle Socket having a wide front ange bent back upon itself to provide a receiving socket for said pin, said flexing bands engaging said socket so as to maintain said socket in any desired angular position.

WARREN G, BAILEY. 

